MANILA, Philippines - The number of domestic violence continued to increase with 12,948 cases of physical abuse recorded from January to August this year, the Department of Social Welfare and Development said in a statement on Monday.
A significant increase in cases was already observed in 2011 when 15,104 incidents recorded compared to only 9,485 cases in 2010, as reported by the Philippine National Police's Women and Children Protection Center.
"It has turned into a pervasive human rights violation. It violates the fundamental freedom of women and impedes the development of their full potential," DSWD Secretary Corazon Soliman said.
Soliman called the trend a "growing phenomenon of violence against women" in Asia and organized a meetings of Asean nations this month to tackle the problem.
The forum, first conducted in 2003 and followed in 2005, sought to strengthen networks to support the campaign against domestic violence.
"We are looking forward to a fruitful sharing of ideas and strategies that will effectively eliminate this social malady in the Asian region," Soliman added.
November 25 is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
1 out of 5 Filipino women abused
A significant increase in cases of domestic violence against women observed in 2011 when 15,104 incidents recorded compared to only 9,485 cases in 2010. (LMAP)